Between the recent developments in creating 3D printed houses, replicas of T-Rex museum displays and even carbon fiber race car parts, the limits of additive manufacturing are being pushed daily. In the past, 3D printers were commonly used for creating prototypes and one-offs in the product development process. Today however, everybody from middle school students to artists such as Joshua Harker are able to manifest their ideas into physical forms and new visual languages with more ease than ever. In this newly-released book from reputable publisher Gestalten, ‘Printing Things‘ is perhaps one of the most visually-appealing and comprehensive sources for everything additive manufacturing.

Just Hit ‘Print’

Marketed towards both professional designers/makers and those curious about 3D printing, the book focuses on both being an inspirational and informative guide on all things 3D printing. Among other topics discussed that might be beneficial for a product designer are how to handle copyright restrictions and seamless manufacturing to even understanding how the technology can drive new business models:

“Sharing a love of technology and experimentation, a new generation of designers and creative outsiders can hardly wait to explore the potentials and boundaries of 3D printing. The race is on for anyone to come up with the services and products that will best appeal to a mass market with a growing sensibility for design. Against this background, Printing Things is an essential guidebook for today and tomorrow’s cutting-edge design professionals, tinkerers, and companies.”

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